Petco Park has been like second home to these die-hards who love their team

Luigi Novello and Ishmael Guerrero have packed lifetimes of baseball fanhood into the last two decades.

Their singular obsession revolves around the Padres, a franchise known more for losing than an exceptional ballpark experience.

Novello, 29, has not missed a Padres regular-season home game in 10 years. Guerrero, 45, has missed just one in 17 years.

They make it to Petco Park hours before the first pitch. They often stay late, after the stands have emptied and even the most loyal of fans have gone home.

“Somebody’s gotta support the team,” Guerrero said. “I’m just passionate about baseball.”

Mere passion may not be enough to describe their fervor. For Novello and Guerrero, it could be that the Padres’ home has become their home. It could be that, in the team they watch up close 81 times a year, they see a little of themselves.

Almost perfect

Last Thursday, the Padres concluded their 10th year at Petco Park.

Guerrero has been a season-ticket holder for nearly two decades. For the last seven years at the Padres’ old venue, Qualcomm Stadium, he went to every regular-season home game.

Guerrero was at a family friend’s Little League game the day before. A ball had skied into foul territory. Guerrero looked up to see the ball hurtling toward him. He didn’t see the skateboard by his feet.

A hospital trip and eight stitches above his left eyebrow later, Guerrero watched from home in Chula Vista as the Padres beat the Dodgers 9-3 before a sellout crowd. No one hung a “K” sign in right field whenever a Padres pitcher struck out a batter. That’s Guerrero’s job. He’s known as “K Dude” or “Superfan” around the ballpark.

He was back the next day, starting a new streak and hanging “K’s”. Still a bit woozy from his spill, Guerrero moved slowly in section 133, row 5, seat 16.

Just steps from his spot along the right-field walkway stood a little person with a big smile.

Novello always stands. That day, the Imperial Beach resident checked off his 731st consecutive game at Petco Park.

Keeping the faith

The Padres wrapped up their fifth losing season in six years Sunday. They have made the playoffs just five times in 45 years.

In 2004, Petco Park debuted with an average of 37,243 fans per game. Attendance has hovered around 26,000 for each of the last four seasons. Last Monday, at the opener of the last home series of the year, there was an announced crowd of 15,869.

Novello and Guerrero just about had the right-field walkway to themselves.

As he always does for a night game, Guerrero arrived at the ballpark at 12:30 p.m. First pitch was more than six hours away.